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“There is a belief that innocent passers by, people who live in the area, people who take their children to the school in the area, different clubs in the area are now vulnerable.

“People are frightened, it’s as simple as that.”

Outgoing President of the Garda Representative Association Dermot O'Brien added that gardai need to be better armed to tackle the recent gang activity.

Appearing on the same RTE One show, he explained that since 2008, there hasn't been any tactical training for special units - and revealed the first gardai to respond to the Regency shooting in February were unarmed.

Calling for change, he said: "As members in uniform we have the asp, retractable baton and pepper spray. Once we utilise those forms of force the next available form of force after that is the gun. We have nothing intermediate - the likes of tasers and beanbags."